Head of Defence Sales - Germany

Dawn Aerospace builds reusable, high-cadence space transportation systems. Since 2021, we have delivered non-toxic, refuellable propulsion systems to customers globally, with hardware now operating on over 50 spacecraft. Concurrently, our rocket-powered spaceplanes are actively breaking aviation records and being delivered to government programs across the USA and Europe.

We have achieved these goals through a culture of relentless innovation and a drive to deliver results for our customers, while expanding the value we all get from space.

The Role

To support our expansion in Germany, we are establishing a presence in Dusseldorf or Bremen and are seeking a talented Head of Defence Sale in Germany to lead this strategic initiative. This is a unique opportunity to combine technical insight with strategic commercial leadership in one of the most exciting and fast-growing sectors of the space industry.

This role reports to the Chief Revenue Office, based in Delft, The Netherlands.

Key Responsibilities

RegionalBusinessDevelopment

• Own the commercialrolloutfor Dawn Aerospacein Germanyand be accountable for signed contract value, pipeline quality, and long-term market position.

• Engage directly with prospective customers and industry partners to understand their challenges andidentifywhere Dawn can deliver value.Identify, qualify, and prioritize opportunities in commercial,national security, andresearch sectors.

• Understand and articulate the technical capabilities of theDawn products. Translate customer needs into technicallyviableand cost-effective missionor vehicle acquisition proposals.

• Activate and expand senior-level relationships across major government programs, prime contractors, and research institutions.

• Lead complex, multi-stakeholder deal cycles involvinghigh-volume component and services sales, and sovereign capability development.

Strategic Growth

• Establish Dawn Aerospace as a recognized capability withinGermannational security, civil, and researchagencies.

• Identifyandestablishstrategic operating locations, partners, and facilities forsovereign operations.

• Drive negotiation of commercial, technical, and governance terms alongside legal, engineering, and operations teams.

• Feed regional market intelligence directly intoDawn Aerospace's globalproduct roadmapand fleet-expansion strategy.

Requirements

• 10-15years of experience in business development,sales,or mission management in aerospace,aviation, deep-tech,or a closely related sector.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a German national security clearance (U2/U3)

• Established Network with major stakeholders, including Rheinmetall, OHB, DEU SpCmd, BAAINBw and DLR

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills with a customer-first mindset

• Proventrack recordleading complex, long-cycle programmes involving government, institutional, or prime contractor stakeholders.

• University degree in management, business, or a related field.

• In-depth knowledge of local regulations.

• Ability to work independently and make strategic decisions.

• Fluency in German and English (written and spoken).

Preferred Skills

• Experience working directly with customers in aerospace research,defense, or government space agencies.

• An existing or past security clearance in Germany or other NATO country

• Background working with primes, Tier-1 suppliers, or sovereign capability programmes.

• A strong understanding of general aerospace principles such asflightmechanics,mission planning,and project lifecycles.

• FamiliaritywithHubSpot, or similar CRMsuite.

• Ability and willingness to travel both domestically and internationally

• Experience in leadership roles.

What We Offer

• A senior roleestablishinga new category of scalable and sustainable space transportation, focused on delivering solutions to empower German and European strength and resilience.

• A fast-paced, collaborative team environment with a shared vision for the future of space access.

• This role offers a competitive executive compensation package, including participation in Dawn Aerospace's equity incentive plan. This is a unique opportunity to join a high-growth space startup at an early stage and share in the creation of substantial long-term value, with equity structured to reflect the seniority, responsibility, and market-building impact of the role.